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Couple traded drugs for guns, deputies say

Lesley and Mark Blaney are accused of trading drugs for guns and ammunition. (Photos provided by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office)

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Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 1:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 1:13 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - A Nokomis couple has been arrested after the Sheriff's Office says they traded prescription drugs for guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Lesley and Mark Blaney, of the 100 block of S. Orange Grove, had a 9 mm Smith and Wesson and Century Arms AK-74 assault rifle with loaded magazines unsecured in a bedroom, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says.

Lesley is a felon on supervised probation. Deputies searched her home yesterday, and her probation officer found the two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. A switchblade knife was also found.

During the search, deputies found a pill bottle with rock cocaine, a separate canister with Suboxone and pieces of drug paraphernalia which Mark Blaney reportedly admitted were his.

Lesley Blaney, who has been arrested more than a dozen times, is charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of ammunition. Mark Blaney is charged with possession of imitation controlled substance, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - A Nokomis couple has been arrested after the Sheriff's Office says they traded prescription drugs for guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.</p><p>Lesley and Mark Blaney, of the 100 block of S. Orange Grove, had a 9 mm Smith and Wesson and Century Arms AK-74 assault rifle with loaded magazines unsecured in a bedroom, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office says.</p><p>Lesley is a felon on supervised probation. Deputies searched her home yesterday, and her probation officer found the two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. A switchblade knife was also found. </p><p>During the search, deputies found a pill bottle with rock cocaine, a separate canister with Suboxone and pieces of drug paraphernalia which Mark Blaney reportedly admitted were his.</p><p>Lesley Blaney, who has been arrested more than a dozen times, is charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of ammunition. Mark Blaney is charged with possession of imitation controlled substance, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p></p>